summer fun in Utah

Andy teaching our boys how to be men





























pictures from Lake Powell, then a pioneer day horse ride in Payson Canyon, Bryce Canyon trip and Mom and Dad's cabin. Sigh

Andy and Michael washing the rattlesnake skin that is now hanging in Michael's room

We saw a big herd of long/big horn sheep/goats on our way out of Zion's Canyon

reasons why I didn't post

150 pounds of peaches

100 pounds of pears

50 pounds of apples

50 pounds of plums

another 50 pounds of apples

200 pounds of tomatoes

planning the primary program

writing/ editing the primary program

moving out of the old primary room

moving into the new primary room

PTA job (volunteer coordinator)

soccer practice for Milo

soccer practice for Kayla

soccer practice 2x weekly for Michael

dance 2x weekly for Kambri

2.5 hrs in piano lessons

enforcing daily piano practicing

new soccer cleats

new ballet slippers

violin lesson for Kayla and Milo

enforcing daily violin practice

re-writing the primary program

shampoo Excursion- friend's kid puked all over the back seat

scouts- coordinate leaders, boys, activities

plan 2 baby showers

clean out garage that is STILL packed full of useless junk

deal with freezer full of rotting food (lost power while we were out of town for 2 weeks)

deal with broken washer

broken shower

run with Charlie

play practice

co-plan church Halloween party

look at everything in the backpacks everyday

homework monitor and tutor

pack 4 lunches each morning

keep the fridge stocked with DP

8 loads of laundry (when I remind the kids to wear jeans more than once)

Mutual- bribing Kambri to go

classroom birthday celebrations

field trip chaperone

taking the twins so my sweet friend can pack (who I'll miss so much)

and my favorite-- official pencil sharpener for Milo's Kindergarten class

I'm just saying, I don't get why people wonder what I do no that I don't work in the office and my kids at school. Mostly I just prep for when they come home.

I love everything I do, (except cleaning up car puke and cleaning out rotting maggot filled meat)

Its just that I won't be a daily or even a weekly blog person. One thing I love is keeping in touch with old friends and family and this silly blog has done a great job of that!

memories from the first day of school

What Charlie did after everyone was off to school.

We had week after week of sunshine this summer and our grass totally died, but its already green again.


Now the kids have been in school for about a month, its interesting to see how much they've changed just in a few weeks time. For one, Milo could use a haircut, today his hair is over his eyebrows. Note to me: haircut moving to high priority list- long hair could be a fire hazard blowing out six candles at his birthday party on Thursday.

All of our kids are posers, but I must say Kayla has taken posing to a new level. She's named her poses, the one of her next to the rock is called shine. Milo and Kayla LOVE their bus driver. She is so amazing with the kids! She knows each child's name and she throws a little treat out for Charlie everyday.

Michael and Kambri seem to be enjoying middle school. Michael's classes are challenging for him for the first time. He's getting the hang of all the studying and homework.

Kambri is enjoying her 8th grader status. She's taking pottery and home ec to break up her tough classes.

More to come, I have some awesome pictures to post from our summer trip.

the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the world

not to brag, but it's true these really are the best EVER!  Just remember there is more to it than mixing the ingredients together, I'll give you all the secrets to make just right.

Cream together:

1 cup softened butter

1 cup shortening

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp real vanilla

change out your beaters to dough hooks!  Martha and I broke Mom's Bosch back in high school when we failed to follow that step! oh the good old times!

Pre-heat Oven 375

mix in:

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

5 cups oats (put small amounts in blender and blend until it's semi-powdered)

measure oats before blender-izing!

Add 24 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

3-4 chipped Hershey bars (or Skor bars are yummy)

Bake golf ball sized cookies on a stone for 14 minutes OR on an un-greased cookie sheet for 11 minutes.  Take them right out even though they won't look done, let them cool on the cookie sheet.  Then watch as they magically disappear before your eyes. Makes a lot of dough, I like to keep it in the fridge and bake a pan here and there.  But I have to hide the dough or the munchkins discover it and it disappears. They will be the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you've EVER eaten.  

Thank me later ;)

Just time to post something new!  School's out FINALLY.  We've been mixing in relaxation with lots of fun activities, who knew having fun could be so tiring?  I pumped up this little row boat and the kids love "rowing" around the shallower part of the lake.  I promise to get a picture here soon.  Charlie is getting too much attention, we take him out for walk/runs all day long (me on foot, kids on bikes/ scooters)  The cool part about having so many kids is we are an instant parade wherever we go.  I made recordings of each child's piano recital piece, but I don't know how to reformat the videos to upload them.  We've been harvesting BEAUTIFUL roses from our garden and enjoying the fragrance as it wafts through our house. (cool word, eh?)  The kids are working on their summer reading challenges and we've discovered a great series called Artimus Fowl.  I can't wait to read it, Michael and Kayla are fighting over the books so I know they're good!  Primary is going really well, we have a new chorister and now Andy is the primary pianist extraordinaire.  For the moment (no one breathe) we have teachers for every class AND scout/ activity day leaders!  In my organization efforts (one drawer/ cupboard at a time)  I discovered an envelope of gift cards so we're enjoying YUMMY Panara bagels this morning.  And I'm on way to pick up bulk strawberries and raspberries this morning.  Vitamix frozen yogurt here we come.  Oh yeah and it hasn't rained in days!  I LOVE SEEING/FEELING THE SUN AGAIN!

prepare for long and boring

Last June I started this silly little blog in an effort to keep my far-away family members up to date with our day to days. I found out it was a great way for me to celebrate those fun family moments. Which we are blessed beyond measure with so many of those moments. Now here we are another year gone by. My kids have 2 weeks and they'll be out of school, I'm way too busy with all of those crazy end of the year activities that having four kids in 3 different schools does to a mom. But I wouldn't dream of doing anything else with my time, except maybe lying poolside in Vail with Martha or taking a dawn walk Becca.

Last year at this time Andy was in the process of firing a very toxic personality that nearly ran our business into the ground, needless to say June 2008 was an extremely stressful time. In all honesty though the last 3 years owning this dental practice has been nothing short of a nightmare. From the world's worst ever transition, to the landlord from h***, to dishonest employees, to a dentist trying to blackmail us, to fighting contract flaws in our glorious legal system-- just vaguely speaking, (believe me you don't want the details.) We've spent enough in legal council to buy a small island.   Which is what we should of done and then moved there to live out lives as exiles.

Now here we are again, last week Andy fired another one of those toxic personalities and this one single-handedly destroyed our dental lab. Which looking on the bright side has freed up some time for me at least. 

We also spent time some time at our old home in Maple Valley weighing out pros and cons for moving back. Charlie would love the fenced backyard on the trail, I would LOVE the gigantic kitchen and the master suite with its brand new bathroom and its closet the size of my current bedroom (sigh) and the kids would go crazy with all the extra space to play and hide and be kids. (Not to mention our incredible family friends in the town.) Ultimately there are so many unknowns with the dental office, its not a good time to throw an hour commute into the mix for Andy. So rather than keep hassling with renters, its time to say good-bye to our Maple Valley house.  Which is the practical choice besides, I love my current neighborhood h and the kids are all signed up for fall soccer and this country girl finally knows her way around the city (with gps help).  So for now its time to de-junk so we can actually fit into this little house.  So for thoseof you who caught me crying like a fool during church, now you know I was crying for no good reason other than Sacrament mtg is the only time I sit still long enough to let emotions get the better of me and I suddenly realized how much I miss that big box of house we left behind in Maple Valley. 

 June causes reflection for me.  5 years ago in June we were leaving Iowa City upon Andy's graduation from dental school.  I remember feeling so excited to be moving into our first home, then loving my AWESOME neighbors like family and having actual family close-by to cheer us on.  Andy loved practicing with his Dad and I loved my early morning running friends.

I'm not sure what more to say except I'm feeling so homesick and I'm not even sure exactly what I'm homesick for.  But I've got a crazy day and if I don't get to the field trip with 2 coolers of Popsicles, the consequences will be grave.

charlie

I'm not really a big animal person.  I always figured if I could just take care of the very children that came from body (or I guess through my body from heaven) that was all I could possibly give.  Then came Charlie.  He is the world's best dog and I can't even imagine life without him now.  So enjoy the pictures and come meet him sometime.